mame2003-plus: hundreds of new games, improved input, features, new bugs - now with runahead support

Clyde

@hhromic I did press Esc twice as fast as I am physically able to. :) Also, MAME does react to it, but not in the intended way. It either binds the double tap (i.e. it shows the bound key two times without any and or or in-between) or it reverts any changes to the default binding, depending on the version of MAME I use.

I would rather avoid clearing the defaults, and I would like to be able to set a particular binding to NONE on the fly if the need arises.

@markwkidd I tried Delete without Enter way before I read about the double keystrokes here. Alas, it doesn't work either (i.e. nothing happens when I do it). I also tried holding down Del for awhile, and also tried Backspace to be sure.

I'm very puzzled about this. 😯 I suspect some nasty little mistake we're all overlooking.

Riverstorm

@Clyde said in mame2003-plus: hundreds of new games, improved input, features, new bugs - now with runahead support:

@markwkidd I tried Delete without Enter way before I read about the double keystrokes here. Alas, it doesn't work either (i.e. nothing happens when I do it)

Sorry, yes the left/left and del/del are for setting to the defaults but like you a single delete highlighting the field doesn't seem to work for me either. Double escape does set my field to NONE. A field you might want to check is your UI Cancel and make sure it's set to escape (ESC) and whatever controller button you want to use.

You can also set the Input (general) fields (in any game) to NONE and they will trickle down to all the game configs.

If you enter Input (this game) (for a specific game) and a field is highlighted (looks white--that's an override and won't inherit the default settings from the Input (general) (default.cfg). Resetting the field with left/left or del/del will pull down the Input (general) settings. If you're doing them one game at a time that would definitely be laborious.

You could manually delete all the game.cfg files and setup Input (general) like you want as the main file that will cover most of your game needs. Then each game launched will pull from the Input (general).

Then go back through to fine tune individual one off games, for example there's no good Input (general) that covers most games and pinball games (flippers) so I go into each pinball game and setup the left/right shoulders or left/right triggers to the left/right pinball flippers, etc. for those type of game overrides. You'll find many games that just don't work at the defaults and will need a game level override.

Think of it as a hierarchy, the top level is for most games, then individual overrides for those one off games.

I don't want to confuse it much but keep it at the back of your mind for later fine tuning. You can go back and override with RA at the global, system, core or ROM level that makes it very powerful. I use all of them in conjunction with TAB input. I have everything set almost perfect for all cores and games.

Also with all the enhancements @grant2258 has put into place you can once again do NOT mappings that I am not sure if RA is capable of doing at this point.

Clyde

@Riverstorm said in mame2003-plus: hundreds of new games, improved input, features, new bugs - now with runahead support:

If you enter Input (this game) (for a specific game) and a field is highlighted (looks white--that's an override and won't inherit the default settings from the Input (general) (default.cfg). Resetting the field with left/left or del/del will pull down the Input (general) settings.

That may be the nasty little mistake I suspected. I only tested your suggestions in the Input (this game) section to avoid messing up my overall bindings. If it's like you said, then it's no surprise that the double taps didn't create NONE but restored the Input (general) bindings.

I'll check this later or tomorrow. My Pi is updating mame2003-plus from source at the moment. ;)

I go into each pinball game and setup the left/right shoulders or left/right triggers to the left/right pinball flippers, etc. for those overrides.

I usually do that via the RA GUI in Quick Menu -> Controls. But I'm also familiar with the MAME hierarchy. I just didn't know about the different effects of double-tapping in Input (general) and Input (this game). It's not really intuitive, I have to say.

Thanks for tipping my in the right direction (I think, we'll know for sure after I'll be able to test it.)

Riverstorm

@Clyde said in mame2003-plus: hundreds of new games, improved input, features, new bugs - now with runahead support:

That may be the nasty little mistake I suspected. I only tested your suggestions in the Input (this game) section to avoid messing up my overall bindings. If it's like you said, then it's no surprise that the double taps didn't create NONE but restored the Input (general) bindings.

Right, del/del, left/left or esc/esc will return the field to the defaults or possibly NONE (whatever is configured above in Input (general)). Doing the same key combos in Input (general)will set the field to NONE because there's nothing above to pull down.

I agree it's not intuitive and I had trouble figuring how to clear a field even too. :)

Riverstorm

@Clyde - Sorry, I now you've been doing this a long time too. I started the post directed at giving you incorrect information on left/left and del/del and ended the post trying to share more information, that you didn't need. It was meant for @hhromic helping with his setup, sorry about that and have a good weekend.

grant2258

Ok guys i dont mean to talk down to anyone here. Im not calling anyone stupid or anything like that. Im going to briefly tell you guys what im planning on doing with the ipac/keyboard situation.

now by default people have been confused on a few levels of whats going on with this. I never used the keyboard code before so i didnt look into it. After @Riverstorm had a few problems i looked into it more and figured out what was going on.

problem 1 retroarch hotkeys (easy to work around)
problem2 there really was never no need to set you keys in mame just set it in RA config
this lead to
problem 3 mame keys conflicting with RA binds

let me explain this a little further without getting all technical.

you bind your p1 to ra config
when you press this key mame reads the key press and retro arch sends the retropad code.

I have a working solution and i will also add support for people wanting to use the old way of mame doing things. I just finished a nightshift so ill get the code done really soon and explain what you need to do then. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause anyone.

update: mame2003 plus esc now works that part of the code has been fixed already. The old code wont no need to update yet ill do the fixes soon

Brigane

@markwkidd If you dont mind I would like to request a mame2003-plus fix of Wyvern Wings (wyvernwg) it seems to run with mame2010 but I have no ingame sound and some slowdown. Thanks in advance

Clyde

@Riverstorm No problem, I just wanted to tell you that I know the hierarchy in principle, so that you would know what you don't have to explain to me. :)

Here's the summary of my test today after updating RA from binary, as well as mame2003 and mame2003-plus from source.

Esc,Esc sets a binding to none in Input (general). \o/
Left,Left only sets a binding to none if game focus is on. Without game focus, the Retropad left ist bound twice, which is a known problem discussed here.
Del without Enter still doesn't remove the binding ( @markwkidd ).

So, at least the riddle is solved. I still miss a way to remove a binding in Input (this game) regardless if there is a binding for it in Input (general). I know I could edit the config files, but that is rather inconvenient in testing situations to find the best controls for a game.

@grant2258 said in mame2003-plus: hundreds of new games, improved input, features, new bugs - now with runahead support:

I have a working solution and i will also add support for people wanting to use the old way of mame doing things. I just finished a nightshift so ill get the code done really soon and explain what you need to do then. Sorry for any inconvenience this may cause anyone.

That sounds great, especially the explaining part. :)

update: mame2003 plus esc now works that part of the code has been fixed already. The old code wont no need to update yet ill do the fixes soon

What exactly does work now in contrast to before and/or mame2003? Just trying to avoid (more) misunderstanding. :)

grant2258

@Clyde

everything works mame2003 has the exact same issues with this you assuming you dont have you hotkeys nulled (it wont matter though in thus this case though and you have the default ra pl keyboard settings) start nbbatman in mame2003

press the ra p1 credit key (right shift ) a few times player 3 will start.

I really dont want to get into details here. it will be fixed and the underlying reasons dont matter to the end user.

note this a a keyboard/ipac setup issue that does need addressed

Clyde

@grant2258 As a mere end user myself, I'm perfectly fine with end user level descriptions. :)

In my last post, I just referred to your announcement about explaining what we need to do after you finish your code. Take your time, and thanks for all the work.

grant2258

@Clyde

all you will need to do is set your ipac up in ra config and set an enable hotkey so you dont need to null and hotkeys out nothing more

Clyde

@grant2258 I don't have an IPAC, but two DragonRise controllers and a normel USB keyboard. So, the problems you describe are only occurring with IPAC? Then my apologies for missing that in the discussion. O:)

grant2258

i use the two dragon rises myself :) the problem exits in keyboard too do the above it is for keyboard. I will implement the code and the how to setup. The final decision will be up to mark though

Riverstorm

@Clyde - I also updated from source and I'm have the same results as you. For Input (this game) nothing I tried could set the field to NONE except doing so in Input (general) and inheriting down. :( That's an issue in itself. Deleting a game.cfg every time you want to clear a field is a bit brutal.

@grant2258 - I hear ya but you're going to need TAB input if plan to do any type of NOT mappings but if not I suppose you could just bind in RA and call it good.

I just finished watching the original Halloween and going to catch some shut-eye. I know you wouldn't talk down to us or call us stupid so at the expense of sounding condescending; I'm proud of you and look forward forward to what your plan is also! ;)

grant2258

tab menu will still work it will become clear when it done just trust me

Clyde

In grant we trust. :)

grant2258

@Riverstorm when i say bind to RA it mean you set your ipac keys up in RA config this binds these keys to the retropad. The tab menu will work and your changes will show up as retropad changes not keys just like a controller would this is per spec of what the RA really does.

As you know we have maps for different layout it means one setup will work across cores

hhromic

@Riverstorm said in mame2003-plus: hundreds of new games, improved input, features, new bugs - now with runahead support:

@Clyde - Sorry, I now you've been doing this a long time too. I started the post directed at giving you incorrect information on left/left and del/del and ended the post trying to share more information, that you didn't need. It was meant for @hhromic helping with his setup, sorry about that and have a good weekend.

much appreciated :)
and thanks @grant2258 for addressing and trying to find solutions for us!

Riverstorm

@grant2258 - I fully understand what you are the explaining on how it all works and TAB mapping isn't needed for average cases/users who want to get it up and running quickly or have a positive out of the box experience.

For advanced configurations TAB is needed. The things I am not 100% sure on for RA capabilities are <NOT> mappings, dual joystick mappings (left/up, left/down, right/up, right/down, etc.) the ability to assign multiple keyboard keys or controller buttons to a single input. I do this on several games mainly on the controller but also keyboard, such as assigning both shoulders and triggers to flippers in pinball games or multiple gas pedal options. Whatever is more comfortable for the player and they naturally start using. There are other reasons why TAB is still viable too.

I am MAME centric no doubt. It's what I've known for 20 years or whatever the years are now. It has functionality RA is just not capable of doing at this stage of development.

I know you have something in the oven that smells good but syncing MAME and RA inputs then leveraging TAB has worked for me for a few years pretty well and I am most comfortable there. I like when there's more than way to achieve a goal, even if someone deems it 90 vs 100 efficient doesn't make folks stupid ;), the gaming is still fun regardless and fun is the goal here but I'm definitely curious what you have planned.

Also a side bar but still "Plus" related, can you set a field to NONE in Input (this game) on the current commit? Should I open an issue? Clyde and I are both getting the same results when on the current build and I'm sure it worked on older versions. Needing to SSH or work at the CLI to delete a game.cfg to set a field to NONE is a bit extreme.

Anyway thanks for all the amazing updates.

UDb23

Just found out that Asteroids discrete sounds were significantly improved in version 125 and 142 of Mame. Details here.
Is mame2003-plus already integrating those enhancements ? If not would it be possible ?